Domestic appliance



May 26, 1959 K. K. KESLING 2,338,544

nouns'nc APPLIANCE Filed March 12, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mum/101m Keith K. Res/mg Y Fig.2 WQM His Attorney K. K. KESLING DOMESTIC APPLIANCE May 26, 1959 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1956 INVENTOR. Keir/7 K. Kes/ing BY w. 6?. His Attorney egw 44w46 Fig. 4

United States Patent DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Keith K. Kesling, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1956, Serial No. 570,900

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-37) This invention relates to a fold-back type of electric heating unit that folds down onto a counter top when in use, and more particularly to a pivotally mounted heating unit that is provided with trays that are extensible from within the heating unit out over the counter top to a vessel supporting position, where they may be used to support hot cooking vessels and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a pivotally mounted heating unit with support means that is movable to a supporting position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotally mounted heating unit with trays or supports that are normally positioned within the heating unit, but which are adapted to be extended to a supporting position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heating unit assembly wherein the heating units are provided with extensible trays;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified type of heating unit assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, the heating units being provided with slidable trays that are extensible through openings formed in the sides of the heating units;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of still another modification of a heating unit assembly having trays that are extensible from the sides and fronts of the heating units; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a heating unit shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the heating unit assembly includes a vertically disposed enclosing support 20 that may be mounted on a counter top 22 of a kitchen cabinet assembly or the like. The counter top 22 is made of conventional material adapted for use as a top surface material for a kitchen work surface. The enclosing support 20 may also be secured to a vertical support, if desired, and may be mounted in any part of a kitchen. The vertical support need not be part of an assembly that includes a horizontal counter top and in certain constructions may be assembled where no counter top is provided. The heating units denoted by reference numerals 2 and 4 are of the type which are pivoted to the vertical support 20 near the rear portions thereof. When the heating units are being used they are horizontally disposed, but may be moved to a veitical position where they are out of the way of the counter top, to provide for extra Working space when the units are not needed. The heating unit 2 is similar in construction to the unit 4 and is comprised of a main sheet metal housing 3 that carries a heating element 6. A front panel member 10, made of suitable non-metallic material, is secured to the front end of the heating unit and carries a control 2,888,544 Patented May 26, 1959 knob 16. The control knob functions to control the amount of electrical energy supplied to heating element 6 by conventional circuitry, not shown. Heating unit 4 is identical with heating unit 2 except that a somewhat larger heating element 8 is carried thereby.

Although heating units of the type described hereinbefore are well adapted for cooking needs, it has sometimes become difficult to provide the necessary extra supporting space for cooking utensils and the like. Even in the case where sufficient counter space is provided, there is a danger that hot utensils may be placed thereon, thus burning or scorching the surface of the counter. In those installations where no counter space is pro vided adjacent the heating units, there is no convenient place for temporarily supporting cooking receptacles and the like. This situation is remedied by the construction shown in Fig. 1 wherein extensible trays 24 are slidingly supported by the housing 3 of the units 2 and 4. As shown, the trays may slide through openings provided in front panel 10 and in the main housing of the heating units. The trays are supported in a manner to be described hereinafter and as more particularly shown in Fig. 4. The trays need no other supporting means than that provided by the heating units, but if extra support is desired, face plates 26 may be secured to the front end of the trays 24. Each face plate has a portion extending below the tray 24 adapted to engage the counter 22 to provide extra support.

The assembly shown in Fig. 2 is identical to that of Fig. l with the exception that the trays are extensible from the sides of the heating units rather than from the fronts thereof. In this case, trays 28 slidingly engage heating units 2 and 4 and are adapted to be moved from a position within the heating units to a supporting position without the heating units. The side walls of the main housings 5 of heating units 2 and 4 are provided With suitable openings in order that the trays may pass therethrough. If extra support is desired, the trays may be provided with a downwardly depending portion 36 adapted to engage work support 22 and be supported thereby. The trays 28 may have a finger opening or recess 35 in order that the trays may be gripped to withdraw the same from within the heating units.

The heating assembly of Fig. 3 comprises a pair of heating units 2 and 4 that are identical to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The front panels 10 and main housings 7 of the heating units are provided with suitable openings in order that trays 30 may pass therethrough. The outer side walls of the heating unit housings are also provided with openings for trays 34. Trays 34 are identical to trays 28, shown in Fig. 2, and trays 30 are identical to trays 24, shown in Fig. l, and like reference numerals denote identical or similar parts in each figure. With this construction, considerably more supporting space is provided than in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that trays 34 are disposed somewhat above the trays 30.

A preferred method of pivotally connecting the heating units 2 and 4 to support 20, and for slidingly supporting the trays shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the tray 30 may carry a bracket 38 having an opening fonned therein. This opening is adapted to slidingly engage a rod 40 that is secured to opposite ends of the main housing of a heating unit. If extra support is desired, the tray may carry more than one bracket 38 in which case more than one rod 40 will be provided. A plate 42 may be secured to the main housing below the tray 30 and is adapted to slidingly support the lower wall thereof. In a like manner, the tray 34 may be supported by brackets 44 secured thereto. The brackets are formed with openings that slidingly engage rods 46 that are secured to opposite side walls of the main housing.

In addition, the tray 34 may be supported by a plate 48 similar to plate 42.

The heating units are pivoted to support 20 by means of a .pivot pin 56 that rotatably supports hinge arm 60. The pivot pin is secured to'a bracket 58 while hinge arm 60 is secured to heating un'it4. The bracket58-is secured to the main vertical support 20 and this support includes a wall 62, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper-end of wall 62 provides an abutment adapted to engage the main housing of heating unit '4 to preclude pivotal movement of heating unit 4 below a certain predetermined hori Zqntal position.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a heating as sembly has been provided that'may be moved to a stored position to provide for greater working area in akitchen. The heating units of the assembly are provided with trays that may be-moved to a position within the units and folded therewith into a stored position.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be'understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a horizontally arranged counter tQP, a vertically arranged hollow back splash resting on said counter top and having an open front'side, a pair of electric heating units each including a box shaped housing pivoted to said back splash adjacent its lower end with each housing supporting an electric heating element, said heating units being located in aligned side by side relationship and being pivotally movable from a vertical folded'up position wherein said heating units arepartially enclosed by said'back splash to a horizontally folded down position wherein said heating units rest on said counter top, said housing having a plurality of slots and defining a storage recess adjacent said slots, at first imperforate tray slidably supported within said recess. and extensible through one of said slots and a second imperforate tray slidably supported vwithin said through another of said'slots, the ends of said trays hav ing substantially vertically extending face plates that engage said counter top when the trays are extended, said trays being slidable in nested relationship entirely within said storage recess with said face plates engaging said housing whereby said trays ciear the marginal edge of said back splash when said heating units are pivoted to their vertical position.

2 In combination, a horizontally arranged counter top, a vertically extending hollow back splash resting on said counter top, a pair of heating units each including'a generally box shaped housing formed with a front wall and side walls pivoted to said back splash, said heating units being located in aligned side by side relationship with a pair of side walls being located closely adjacent one another and said units being pivotally movable from a vertical partially enclosed position to a horizontal position wherein said heating units rest on said counter top, said housing having a slot in a front wall and a side wall thereof and enclosing an unobstructed recess within said housing adjacent said slots, and a plurality of'imperforate trays" 'slidably supported by said heating units and extensiblerespectivelythrough the slots in said front and side wall of said housing, said'trays being substantially as wideas thefront and side walls 'o'f said housing whereby the'heating units are circumscribed by said trays and said back splash when in a horizontal position.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNIT TES TE TS 6 9 91 R h ond -.'.'E-".": -t--r. D 31, 9. 1 92 681 W y -Y-?---V- p 7, 1 1,656,529 ODowd Jan. 17, 1928 2,536,513 OKeefe Jan. 2, 1951 2,675,796 Van Helden Apr. 20, 1954 2,722,592 Pellegrin Nov. 1, 1955 2,738,411 Sandin Mar. 13, 1956 

